Drop for store-service apparatus



(No Model.) W. S. LAMSON.

DROP FOR STORE SERVICE APPARATUS. No. 303,522. Patented Aug. 12, 1884.

linrrn STATES PATET rren.

\VILLIAM S. LAMSON, OF LOWVELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

DR OP FOR STORE-SERVICE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 303,522, dated August 12, 1884.

Application filed March 1, 188-1. (No model.)

' aZZ whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. LAMSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drops for Store-Service Apparatus, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of storeservice apparatus in which rolling balls or carriers are used; and it consists in the combination, with the ways, of one or more tubular conductors, whereby the carriers are directed without noise or injury to the proper station, and in such a combination and .arrangement of ways, stations, and conductors, and elevating appliances as avoids waste of floor-space in the salesroom. v

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective elevation of sufficient of a store-service apparatus to illustrate my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation illustrating a different arrangement of the conductors; Fig. 3, a section on line 1 2, Fig. 2.

In that class of. store-service apparatus in which rolling carriers or balls are employed it is sometimes desir. ble to have the ways or rails, both for conducting the carriers to the desk and back to the stations, at a high elevation, and it is also sometimes desirable to rapidly conduct the carriers from the elevated ways without the necessity of operations by the attendants and without noise or injury to the carriers. It is common to employ receiving-baskets, into which the carriers are directed at their respective stations or at the desk; but the necessity of constantly moving the same up and down, especially at the cashiers desk, where all the carriers are received, is objectionable.

My invention consists in combining with the ways of a store-service a chute or conductor extending from the way to the desk or station, receiving the carriers from the way and directing them downward,and provided at the lower end with a cushion to prevent injury to the carriers and noise from. the stoppage'thereof. The said conductor A may be a continuous tube of wood, metal, paper, or other material;

but preferably consists of parallel rods or strips a, of metal or wood, secured at equal distance apart to and supported in position by.

rings or bands I), and suspended from a suitable support at the upper end, as shown in Fig. 1, or supported at the lower end on a standard, E, as shown in Fig. 2. WVithin the conductor, at the lower end, is a bumper or cushion, 13, consisting of felt pads e, as in Fig. 1, or of a pad or block of cork or soft mate rial, supported by a spring, 3, as shown in Fig. 2, and one of the rods is broken away or dis continued above said cushion to leave a space or opening and for withdrawal of the carrier. As shown, the conductor is arranged at the terminus of the way C, leading from the counters to the cashiers desk X, to receive the carriers which pass from the way into the conductor,and are conducted thereby to the desk, the open tube or chute serving to direct the carriers without noise or rattling, and the cushion B arresting the carrier without shock or noise.

To preventa second ball from dropping upon one already on the cushion a, I in some cases use a basket, E, Fig. 2, inclining said cushion and projecting it to one side, so that the ball may pass into the basket from the cushion, which breaks its fall, leaving the cushion unobstructed'ior the reception of the succeeding ball.

The conductor is shownin Fig. l. at the end of the route and connecting directly with the way 0, leading from the counters; but a conductor may be arranged at each station or counter 1 and receive the carriers for such counter, passing on the return-way D, as shown in Fig. 2. In this case it is advisable to connect the conductor with a short rail-section, D, onto which the carriers are directed from the main way I) by automatic switches 71, op-

erated only by the carriers intended for the adjacent counter.

Where more than one lloor is occupiecha single clerk may be made to scrvc'i'or both floors by extending the conductor A through the floor Z of the upper room to the-room below and placing the cashiers station in said room, so that but one desk is required and loss 01' floor-space in the upper salesroom is avoided. It will of course be understood that in such case elevating appliances T, Fig. 1, at the cashiers desk, to return the carriers to the way D, are desirable.

1. The combination, with the way and station of a store-service apparatus, of a tubular conductor extending from the way to the station, and provided with a bumper or cushion at the lower end, andwith a receptacle adjacent to said bumper, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the way of a storeservice apparatus, of a conductor consisting of parallel rods or strips, extending from the way to the desk or station, and having a enshion and opening, 00, at thelowcr end, and receptacle adjacent to said opening, substantially as described.

3. The combinatioinwith the ways of a storeservice apparatus, of a cashiers desk in a room below the upper salesroom, and a tubular conductor leading from the way through the floor of the salesroom to the eashicrs desk below, substantially as set forth.

4. The co1nbination,with the way of a storeservice, of a tubular conductor for the carriers,

tube leading (1OW11W2L1dfI'Ol11 the way, and provided with a cushion and a lateral orifice at the lower end, of a receptacle adjacent to said orifice, substantially as described.

7. The combination of the conductor having an orifice at the lower end, and a cushion, and a basket extending to one side, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have sighed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VILLIAM S. LAMSON:

Witnesses:

E. F. ENDICOTT, Orms. A. Cox. 

